Two area women held in Thailand

Danniel Paquette, left, and Misty Eichholz had their passports taken away Monday and now await trial for attempting to use counterfeit U.S. currency. Courtesy photo

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Two area women held in Thailand By Penne Usher

A woman from Placerville and one from Citrus Heights are being held in Thailand, suspected of passing a counterfeit bill.

Their family and friends are working feverishly to raise money to pay for their lawyer.

Misty Eichholz, a long-time bartender at PJâs Roadhouse in Placerville, and Da nniel Paquette went to Thailand Feb. 16 for a one month vacation. They were arrested one week into their trip.

Eichholzâ boyfriend Brandon Berlanga declined to elaborate on the case under advice from the womenâs attorney.

âThe lawyer suggested I not speak to the media,â he said in a brief phone interview Monday. âEverything is still up in the air. Itâs a messy scenario.â

According to a Gofund me post, Eichholz and Paquette were traveling through Cambodia and Thailand. In Thailand âthey came across U.S. currency in the street and believed it to be pure luck,â the post states. âLuck turned to terror, however, when attempting to exchange the currency, they were counterfeit.â

The two women are currently out of jail after posting bail Monday.

âThey are not out of the woods yet,â Berlanga posted on his Facebook page. âWe still need a good lawyer and a strong case to ensure that they donât get locked up over there.â

< p>Another family friend posted that if found guilty Eichholz and Paquette could face up to 12 years in jail.

The family has set up two funding pages, Gofundme at gofundme.com/release-misty-and-dannielle-fund and Youcaring at youcaring.com/mistyeichholzanddannielpaquette-1111013, with the hopes of raising at least $50,000 for their attorney.

âTo anyone who has met these two beautiful girls (you) know what kind of people they are. Each of them embody light,â the Gofund me page states. âThey are the most sweet, kindhearted and soulful individuals that I have ever met.â

As of Monday they had their passports confiscated and are staying at a hostel until their trial next month.

A benefit concert will be held at PJâs Roadhouse where one of the women is employed on March 10. All proceeds will go to the womanâs defense fund.